Mallon to be new Belfast mayor

She was confirmed on Wednesday evening as the party's nomination and the decision will be ratified at the full council meeting next Monday.Ms Mallon will be the first female nationalist to take up the post.She takes over from Sinn Féin Balmoral councillor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir."I am deeply honoured to receive the SDLP nomination as Lord Mayor of Belfast and am looking forward to the year ahead in office with anticipation and determination," Ms Mallon said."This will be a very important year for Belfast as we continue to progress and promote our city on the world stage."I aim to showcase everything that is good about Belfast; its young people, its elderly and I intend to open up City Hall, making it more accessible to the underprivileged and bringing the Lord Mayor's role out into the community."I pledge to do my utmost for every single citizen of this city and build on the excellent work of my predecessor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir. It will be hard work, but rewarding. I'm looking forward to beginning the hard work."Ms Mallon was re-elected into the Oldpark ward in the recent elections for the new Belfast super council.Alliance councillor Maire Hendron said she was also honoured to be selected by her party to serve as the next Deputy Lord Mayor."I hope to build upon my work as Chair of the Council's Good Relations Partnership and promote shared future issues during my time in office," she said."Belfast is growing in strength and prosperity. There is a positive mood in the city following the success of the Giro d'Italia and other international events such as the World Police and Fire Games."I look forward to working closely with the new Lord Mayor, Nichola Mallon. It gives me great pride that two women will be the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor for the next year, something that I do not believe has occurred before."Ms Hendron, who stood for the Titanic DEA, failed to be elected to the Belfast super council which takes over next year.